Morning journal and courier., 1887-04-07
THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Rev. pr. Kleeberg Reads a Paper He. fore It's NIembers-A Highly Enter. taiming Discourse.

Rev. pr. Kleeberg Reads a Paper Be-
 fore It's NIembers-A Highly Enter.
 taIning Discourse.
 sThe Hebrew Immigration to this Coun try" was the subject of Dr. L. Kleeberg's paper to the New Haven Colony Historical society. The reading took place at the rooms of the society in the old State House. There was goodly number present. Dr. Kleeberg is a voluble and entertaining speaker, and his most excellent discourse last night was greatly enjoyed by all who were so fortunate as to hear it. Following is given a brief synopsis of it.
 The first Jewish settlers who found home within the borders of what was to be the United States of America came from Brazil. They arrived at New York, then known as New Amsterdam, in the year 1854. Their number was twenty seven men, women and children. They had to contend at first with many difficulties, the governor, Peter Stuvvesant, denied them the right to trade or start any business. Those Hebrews who settled at Savannah Ga., met with 8 better success In the year 1733 forty Hebrews of Spanish or Portuguese descent came to Sa- vannah and were there cordially received. They soon formed a congregation and con- tributed largely to the prosperity of the city.
 The colony of Rhode Island, founded by the noble minded Roger Williams, gave to the Hebrews cordial welcome and as early as 1850 Hebrews settled in the town of New port. They added largely to the commercial prosperity of the place and they were highly respected for their industry, probity and charity. When George Washington visited Newport in 1790 Moses Seixas was the grand master of the Freemasons in Rhode Island and he therefore presented to the President the address of King David lodge.
 He also directed to President Washington xI. Hel, 1~E Newport: "Permit the children of the stock of Abram to approach you with a most cor dial affection and esteem for your person and merit, and to join with our fellow citi zens in welcoming you to Newport. De- prived as we have hitherto been of valuable rights of free citizens we now, with deep sense of gratitude to the Almighty Disposer of all events, behold 8 government erected by the majesty of the people, generously af- fording to all liberty of conscience and i'm munities of citizenship"
 To this congratulatory address Washington sent the following reply: "While l re- ceiyed with much satisfaction your address, I rejoice in the opportunity of as- surfing you that shall always retain grate- full remembrance of the cordial welcome I experienced on my visit to Newport by all classes of citizens. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship. May the children of the stock of Abram who
  joy the good will of other inhabitants. While every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree, there shall be none to make him afraid"
 It was in the year 1917 when the first He brews settled in Cincinnati. When it became known that the Israelites were in the town people within radius of one hundred miles came to converse with the "chosen people of the Old Testament"
 In the early part of the present century Mr. Mordecai M Noah became the United States consul to Tunis and was much grieved at the degradation and suffering of his co-religion- ists there. He therefore at his return to the United States contemplated, in order to ale | viate the misery of his brethren, immigration | of the Hebrews on a large scale Judge | Noah was the proprietor of beau tiful and fertile island which had been ceded to him by the State of New York, in | liquidation of debt due to him. There he proposed to establish Hebrew colony under the governorship of judge of their own na- tion. Here in 1895 was actually laid the foun- dation of a city, which was to bear the name of Ararat, alluding to the mount where Noah's ark rested. He issued a proclama- | tion to the chiefs of the principal Hebrew communities in Europe, asking his friends to promote the grand undertaking. But it | seems that his benevolent intentions were misunderstood, and thus he abandoned his | plan.
 | From the year looO we notice great in crease of German Hebrew emigrants In | 1880 there were about 5000 Hebrews in the | United States. In 1880 the number amount ed to 450, 900. Since 1869 the Russian He- brews came to this country in large numbers, many of whom are farmers, and by the assistance of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid | society" good many agricultural colonies have been established, particularly in the | western States and territories. During the last year more than 1000 Russian Hebrews landed in New York, and the oppression under which they have to suffer in the old country will certainly lead to further immi- grafton.